Man shoots at least 5 in Omaha mall

[MKCT 0]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22116784/?GT1=10645

MSNBC staff and news service reports

updated 15 minutes ago

OMAHA, Neb. - At least five people were shot Wednesday at a busy Omaha mall, local media reported, and police locked down the shopping center.

Witnesses told NBC affiliate WOWT-TV that the shooter pointed a gun over a third-floor railing and opened fire. At least five people were shot, one in the head, and at least three were taken to a local trauma center.

One person was found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot at the Von Maur customer service desk, WOWT-TV reported.

It was not immediately clear if there were any other deaths or what the victims' conditions were. At least one patient was undergoing CPR at the hospital, the station reported.

An employee of Von Maur department store said he heard a burst of five to six shots followed by 15 to 20 shots. Witnesses said the shooter appeared to be firing randomly.

Witnesses describe arrests

Two people were arrested at the mall's bus stop, WOWT-TV said. It was unclear if these arrests were related to the shootings.

KETV-TV reported that a viewer-submitted photo showed police surrounding a man in handcuffs fitting a description of the suspect.

A description of the shooter, broadcast over scanners, was that he was wearing an Army-green vest and was holding a rifle. It was unclear if the man seen in the photo was the shooter, and police did not confirm the arrest.

‘They locked us down’

A woman who answered the phone at an Old Navy store said earlier that 20 to 30 customers were huddled with employees in a back storeroom.

"All we know was people were running and screaming down the hallway by Von Maur saying there was a shooting, and then they locked us down," said the woman, who said her name was Heidi.

A Westroads kiosk worker, who identified herself as Kathy, told KETV-TV that she heard three "pops." She said a Bath and Body Works manager approached her and told her to get out of the mall hallway, as there was a shooting, and the assailant had not been located.

Police were allowing some people to leave the mall, but no one was permitted to enter. Around 2:30 p.m., dozens of shoppers and employees left the mall with hands above their heads.

WOWT-TV reported that authorities removed what officials described as a live grenade from the mall’s parking lot Friday night. The circumstances of the case are under investigation, and there was no indication that incident was related to Wednesday's shootings.

The shooting apparently happened as President Bush was leaving Omaha, where he attended a fundraiser for Republican Senate candidate Mike Johanns.

[Dr. A ♥ O 203]

tragic.

[MKCT 0]

tragic.

I hope the police find that mofo!!!!

[KGSodie 0]

I live in Omaha and have been to the mall in question many times. Given the time of year, I'm sure it was relatively busy even during the day on a weekday. It's difficult to say what can be done, if anything, to halt the violence that seems so prevalent all across this country. It doesn't seem to matter where you live or where you visit - the violence always comes sooner or later. Guns are an evil thing, the Constitution notwithstanding, and although I agree that guns don't kill people, people do, that's little consolation when a deranged or angry person owns a gun and does something horrific.

[Ban Hammer 13,340]

[almaty 19]

terrible...just wrong

[JODO 2]

Something like this happened about a week ago at a Houston mall

[MKCT 0]

BREAKING NEWS

MSNBC staff and news service reports

updated 14 minutes ago

OMAHA, Neb. - A sniper opened fire at a busy Omaha mall, killing at least eight people, wounding at least five others and then killing himself, police officials said.

Sgt. Teresa Negron said most of the dead were inside Von Maur department store at Westroads Mall. She added that the shooter acted alone. The gunman was found dead on the third floor of Von Maur.

Police told NBC affiliate WOWT-TV that the gunman was a 19-year-old man from Bellevue, Neb., who left a suicide note in his home stating, "I'm going out in style." The man’s vehicle was found in the mall parking lot. Bellevue is in Sarpy County, which is south of Omaha and is home to Offutt Air Force Base.

[JODO 2]

BREAKING NEWS

MSNBC staff and news service reports

updated 14 minutes ago

OMAHA, Neb. - A sniper opened fire at a busy Omaha mall, killing at least eight people, wounding at least five others and then killing himself, police officials said.

Terrible

[Kazan' Tiger 1]

Another reason I do my shopping online. Creeps with guns. Why are the places that should be the safest seem to be the most dangerous? Oh, I remember, that's exactly where the sickos go to make us more afraid to leave over homes.

[cmartyn 0]

Ahhh, Nebraska, "Equality before the law" Another state where ANYONE, even a 10 year old kid or a deranged convicted crack dealer can by an AK47. Gotta love that!

GUN SHOW CHECKS

Are background checks required at gun shows? Partial

The state requires a criminal background check be done prior to the purchase of handguns at gun shows (a police-issued permit is required for all handgun sales). But no background check is required for anyone buying a long gun at a gun show if it is sold by "private" individuals or gun "collectors." Long guns, including assault weapons like the AK47, can be sold at gun shows on a "no questions asked, cash-and-carry" basis, making it easy for criminals and even juveniles to buy as many guns as they want. No records are required to be kept on such sales either, making it almost impossible for police to trace the weapons if they are used in a crime.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Ahhh, Nebraska, "Equality before the law" Another state where ANYONE, even a 10 year old kid or a deranged convicted crack dealer can by an AK47. Gotta love that!

GUN SHOW CHECKS

Are background checks required at gun shows? Partial

The state requires a criminal background check be done prior to the purchase of handguns at gun shows (a police-issued permit is required for all handgun sales). But no background check is required for anyone buying a long gun at a gun show if it is sold by "private" individuals or gun "collectors." Long guns, including assault weapons like the AK47, can be sold at gun shows on a "no questions asked, cash-and-carry" basis, making it easy for criminals and even juveniles to buy as many guns as they want. No records are required to be kept on such sales either, making it almost impossible for police to trace the weapons if they are used in a crime.

Deep inside, you know as well as I do that the problem wasn't too many guns but not enough. I bet you anything that there were people that could have had a good shot at this dude before he could kill that many but those fcuking wimps didn't pack. That's the real problem and you know it.

[/sarcasm]

[Jasman0717 9]

This is becoming way too common place

[Jaseball 0]

I hate how every time a gun involved tragedy occurs anti-gun folks make these comments.

If I truly believed outlawing guns would be effective in eliminating them from criminal hands I'd consider it.

Also, you can't really outlaw nitrates, gas, soap, nails, pipes and other ####### to make explosives and I guarantee you a few of those would be far more horrendous than this idiot. Just look at any country that has to deal with suicide bombers.

We do have laws against murderers, terrorists, plenty of gun control laws that restrict law abiding people, but crazy people who want to hurt innocents who have absolutely no fear of death or any possible afterlife have the upper hand.

Their instruments of terror and destruction may change, but the only way to stop them is well in advance when they are thinking/planning and that is pretty hard to do if they are anti-social loners with death wishes who won't hesitate in killing off innocent strangers.

[cmartyn 0]

Dude, nobody here said to outlaw them, just outlaw the sale to terrorists and known felons, asking too much? I dont think so.